Mike Tindall could require surgery on his shoulder after playing through pain during Bath's Heineken Cup defeat to Treviso.

The England centre will find out in the next few days whether an operation is required.

Tindall was marked tightly during his side's 29-23 Pool Two defeat in Italy, as the home side stifled his midfield threat.

Bath's medical staff suspect the player also has a "developing stress fracture" in his foot that could rule him out of next weekend's crucial at the Recreation Ground against the same opponents.

Coach John Connolly was hugely disappointed with his side's display.

He said: "We now need maximum points from our last three pool matches against Treviso and Leinster at home and Bourgoin away to stand any chance of making the knock-out stages as the eighth qualifier."

Argentinian international Felipe Contepomi crowned his Leinster Heineken Cup debut with a try hat-trick as they thumped a lacklustre Bourgoin 92-17 at Lansdowne Road.

Declan Kidney's side ran in 13 tries, with eight of those in the second half, as they moved into a commanding position at the top of Pool Two, with the third biggest win in European history.

Contempomi's trio was sandwiched by efforts from 29-point flyhalf David Holwell (2), Eric Miller, Victor Costello, Shane Horgan (2), Denis Hickie, Shane Jennings, Ben Gissing and Gary Brown as the under-strength French visitors shipped their third defeat from three outings.

Northampton's new captain Steve Thompson credited the sweeping changes made at Franklin's Gardens for their stunning 23-21 Heineken Cup victory over Toulouse.

Saints preserved their 100 per cent record in Europe and replaced the French club at the summit of Pool Three, giving them a magnificent chance of qualifying for the knockout stages of the competition.

The England hooker, who marked his first match in charge with a memorable triumph against the kingpins of European rugby, insisted the result owed everything to the changes introduced over the last fortnight after their woeful Zurich Premiership form.